County releases Sandy figures

Chester County dodged a bullet with Hurricane Sandy, according to figures released Friday by the Department of Emergency Services.

The storm, which devastated large parts of New Jersey and New York, seriously damaged just 20 homes in Chester County, according to spokesperson Bob Kagel. The damage did not reach the threshold needed to warrant federal disaster relief, but the county was able to connect most of the homeowners who experienced damage with volunteer organizations that provide aid.

Hurricane Sandy did result in about $325,000 in county and municipal expenses, Kagel said. Most of the funds were spent on employee wages, materials, and debris removal. The county and affected municipalities are in the process of applying for partial reimbursement from the federal government, Kagel said.